GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS ARE THEY A BLESSING OR
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS, ARE THEY A BLESSING OR A CURSE? By Sharon Myers Kaplan University HW 320 -Contemporary Diet and Nutrition Professor-Lisa Beach October 27, 2015
Terminology 1. BT crops are crops that are engineered to produce their own insecticide known as Bacillus thuringiensis. Research is showing they are harming the environment because of resistance and cross contamination (University of California San Diego n. d). 2. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)- refers to plants and animals whose DNA has been genetically altered. 3. Herbicides are pesticides specifically used to remove weeds. 4. Pesticides are used to kill any unwanted pests which includes weeds, insects, fungus and any unwanted vegetation. 5. Pesticide resistant pests-This happens when the same pesticide is used to control pest resulting in a super pest that survive the exposure making it pesticide resistant.
GMOs claim to increase crop yield which decreases food costs, reduces pesticide use, increases food quality and nutrition and increases the world’s food security (Nature Education, 2014). Some of these claims are true but what is it costing the environment, how does it affect the health of human beings and animals and as consumers do we deserve the right to know what foods are GMOs? I will show the pros and cons of GMOs so you the audience can decide for yourself if GMOs are a blessing or a curse. Image by Organic. org
qqq
One of the Environmental Effect of GMOs: It’s Killing The Bees
Several Ways GMOs Affect Animals, Plants and Soil (Benson, 2013) Disrupts digestion of many animals, they are unable to handle the chemicals and are dying, the chemicals are polluting the environment, depleting the soil of minerals and destroying beneficial bacteria and creating super weeds and super bugs.
Has GMOs reduced pesticide use?
What affect do GMOs have on human health? Image by glutenismywitz. com
As consumers do we deserve the right to know what foods are GMOs?
Conclusion: GMOs have made many claims that they are safe to humans, animals and the environment even though there are scientific studies showing they aren’t. Americans deserve the right to decide for themselves as to whether or not they want to ingest GMOs. In order to make an informed decision, we must have labels that expose GMOs and the risk to our health. Evidence shows GMOs have damaging affects to insects, animals and birds causing endangerment and extinction and they are risking America’s health and destroying our planet. Enough is enough, as a nation we need to fight against GMOs before there is no planet to save. Don’t buy GMOs. In my opinion, GMOs are a curse. Image by www. Freedigitalphotos. net
References Benson, J. (2013) Seven ways GMO toxicity affects animals, plants and soil. Retrieved from http: //www. naturalnews. com/038792_GMO_toxicity_digestion_cancer. html Delaplane, K. (2015) On Einstein, Bees, and Survival of the Human Race. Retrieved from http: //www. ent. uga. edu/bees/On. Einstein. Beesand. Survivalofthe. Human. Race. Honey. Bee. Program. CAESEnto mology. UGA. html Genetic Modification Education (n. d) Suffocating the Soil: An "Unanticipated Effect" of GM Crops. Retrieved from http: //www. gmeducation. org/environment/p 207351 -suffocating-the-soil: anunanticipated-effectof-gm-crops. html Gillam, C. (2012) Pesticide Use Ramping as Since GMO Crops Technology Backfires: study. Retrieved from http: //www. reuters. com/article/2012/10/02/us-usa-study-pesticides-id. USBRE 89100 X 20121002 Good and Well (2013) The GMO Primer: GMOs and how they affect your health, explained. Retrieved from http: //wellandgood. com/2013/02/07/the-gmo-primer-gmos-and-how-they-affect-your-healthexplained/ Kopicki, A. (2013) Strong Support for Labeling Modified Foods. Retrieved from http: //www. nytimes. com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods. html? _r=0 Nature Education (2014) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology. Retrieved from http: //www. nature. com/scitable/topicpage/Genetically-Modified. Organisms-GMOs-Transgenic-Crops-and-732
References cont. The Organic & Non-GMO Report (2012) Pesticide use increases with GM crops. Retrieved from http: //www. nongmoreport. com/articles/november 2012/pesticideuseincreases. GMcrops. php University of California San Diego (n. d) Bt GM (genetically modified) crops. Retrieved from http: //www. bt. ucsd. edu/bt_crop. html University of Illinois at Urbana (n. d) Pollination By Honey Bees. Retrieved from http: //www. aces. uiuc. edu/vista/html_pubs/BEEKEEP/CHAPT 8/chapt 8. html U. S. Department of Agriculture (2014) Genetically Engineered Crops in the U. S. Retrieved from http: //www. ers. usda. gov/media/1282246/err 162. pdf U. S. Department of Agriculture (2015) Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U. S. Retrieved from http: //www. ers. usda. gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-theus. aspx
- Slides: 12